Most Americans like to discuss who is the best at a certain profession...in the NBA, is it Kobe or LeBron?...in the NFL, is it Peyton, Brady, or LaDainian?...but when it came to political journalism, Tim Russert of NBC News was flat out THE BEST...end of story!...
The nation lost a good journalist who was fair - which is often hard to find these days...Russert's climb to become the best in the business is a true American Dream...he was a kid from Buffalo who's parents were just average working class people...but while growing up, he learned a lot of lessons from his parents, most notably his dad, Big Russ, who is still alive...that work ethic helped him rise to become the best...
One of the main reasons I watch NBC News is because of Russert...no matter what I was doing, whenever he came on the air, I would stop to listen...he was "the man" inside the Beltway and I knew he was not slanting his reporting to favor a Republican or Democrat...
What I liked most about Russert was that he was not some handsome, plastic journalist...he was a bit overweight, his hair was always messed a tad, and he had a face not for television...but he always had a smile on his face...he seemed like a nice fella...his co-workers stated that he would talk to anyone no matter who they were or what their job was...that is something that many people lack in today's society...Russert did not think he was better than anyone else...
Russert was also a huge sports fan...he was often seen as Washington Nationals, Wizards, or Redskins games, even though he loved his Buffalo Bills...a few years ago, I was fortunate to get Russert's autograph on a baseball...I have collected almost 200 autographed baseballs, and he has always been one of my top five...
He became NBC News' Washington Bureau Chief at the young age of 34...and today, at the age of 58-years-old, he died...the one person I cannot get out of my mind is his dad Big Russ...about 4 years ago, Russert wrote a book about his dad, who is in his mid-80s and still lives in Buffalo...I cannot imagine the grief Big Russ is feeling -- losing a son -- just two days before Father's Day...
God Bless Tim Russert and his family...
Saturday - 7:00 p.m. EST
Georgia Bulldogs (41-23-1) vs. Miami Hurricanes (52-9)
Both rost
ers are loaded with studs...five players were drafted in the first round of the recent baseball draft...The U had Yonder Alonso (firstbase, Reds); Jemile Weeks (secondbase, Athletics) and Carlos Gutierrez (pitcher, Twins) while the Dawgs had Gordon Beckham (shortstop, White Sox) and Joshua Fields (pitcher, Mariners)...Alonso was drafted 7th overall and Beckham eighth...three more Hurricane players were selected between rounds 2-4...
Beckham showed why he is one of the top players in the country as he led Georgia (.401, 26 homers, 72 RBI, 17 SB)...pitching has been the Dawgs weakness as their best starter has an ERA of 4.25...
Miami may not have that one superstud like Beckham, but they are flat out loaded...Alonso and Weeks both hit .367 for the year...Alonso clubbed 71 homrs while Weeks hit 11 homers and had 21 stolen bases...outfielder Blake Tekotte was close behind with (.357, 11 hr, 47 RBI, 26 SB)...the Hurricanes' ace is Chris Hernandez who went 11-0 with a 2.62 ERA and gave up only 3 homers all year...Carlos Gutierrez is the closer with 13 saves...
Saturday - 2:00 p.m.
Stanford Cardinal (40-22-2) vs. Florida State Seminoles (54-12)
The Seminoles have one of the best prospects in catcher Buster Posey. He was selected fifth overall i
n last week's baseball draft by the San Francisco Giants. The Cardinal catcher, Jason Castro, was not far behind as he was taken 10th overall by the Houston Astros.
Stanford has more players drafted in the first four rounds than did Florida State. Stanford left-handed pitcher Jeremy Bleich was selected in the supplemental first round by the Yankees. In round 3, 2nd baseman Cord Phelps was snatched by the Indians and in round 4, outfielder Sean Ratliff went to the Mets.
Ratliff leads the Cardinal with 21 homers. Castro and Phelps are the leading hitters at .379 and .349 respectively. Bleich is 3-2 with an 0.92 ERA. Jeffrey Inman and Erik Davis lead the team with 7 wins each.
Even though Stanford has a bevy of stars, Buster Posey is a beast. He batted .460 with 26 homers and 92 RBIs. The Seminoles have speed in Jack Rye, Tony Delmonico, and Tyler Holt. On the mound, Matt Fairel (12-2) and Ryan Strauss (10-1) are the leaders.
Law and Order has had some good looking women...do you remember Stephanie March from SVU?...she played D.A. Alexandra Cabot....
D.A. Cabot
March was born in July 1974 which makes her 34-years-old...she was born and raised in Dallas....ironically, March attended the same high school as Angie Harmon, who played a D.A. in the original Law Order...March was a sophomore while Harmon was a senior....now that is a coincidence!!!....
Before getting the role as D.A. Cabot in 2000, March played bit parts in many shows and on Broadway....she lasted on SVU from 2000 - 2003....March appeared in the March 2000 Maxim - so that says something right there...she is married to chef Bobby Flay who proposed to her while ice skating at Rockefeller Center...
My thoughts - She is a classy babe....March always looked good in those business skirts and glasses while on SVU....some may not be on to her because she is skinny and light skinned...but she gets two thumbs up from me...now, I have to get my hands on that yearbook from her high school days to see who beat her and Harmon out for homecoming....so this leads to the questions:
Do you think Stephanie March is is hot?
If so, why doesn't she get the publicity?
Am I missing something?
Leave your comments
This is weird!!!!...the Drudge Report picked up on this story from the News of the World about a woman, who became a man, but kept her female organs and is now pregnant...so this man is having a baby in four weeks....all I know, this baby will clearly need to get some mental help when she gets older... News of the WorldWhy do some men go shirtless, but still wear long jeans during hot weather?...if they want to keep cool, put on a pair of shorts and t-shirt...
I hate when runners run without shirts...what the fuck?!?!...they act all macho like they are Mr. Universe or that they are too "cool" to wear a shirt...put a fucking t-shirt on already!!!... no one wants to see your near naked body...
Now that Hillary Clinton is out of the race, we don't have to hear women saying "You Go Girl" anymore...that saying is just as annoying as when people say "thinking outside the box"...
The other night I stopped to get something to eat at Taco Bell for the first time since probably Christmas...I ordered a Nachos Bellgrande, minus the beans and sour cream, and with extra cheese...first off, the price went up to $2.79...but what pissed me off the most, I eliminated the beans and sour cream, but they still charged me 45 cents extra for the cheese...shouldn't I have gotten the cheese for free being that I eliminated two items...it was a 2 for 1 trade-off in which they were getting the edge...then I get slammed for another 45 cents...Bullshit!!!...
I still can't get over Big Brown's dud of a performance...that would have been like the perfect New England Patriots losing 41-10 in the Super Bowl...
Here is a tip...when at work, whenever you send an email to someone asking them a work-related question, always CC it to someone else to cover your behind...
Kelly Pavlik dominated Gary Lockett in their title fight on Saturday...let's be honest though, Lockett was a tomato can...
Speaking of Lockett, did you see the expression on his face as he entered the ring...he looked like he was either pissed off or had the worst headache in the world...
Some faith-based organizations sure have a lot of nerve...a local church asked Pavlik for a $100,000 donation to repair their church and hall...now that takes some balls to ask Pavlik to just give $100,000...Pavlik has been super at giving his time and trying to help local causes in the Youngstown-Warren area...but let's get real, he is not going to just hand out money for free...and I don't blame him...
Since we are on the subject of boxing, whatever happened to Randall "Tex" Cobb?...
The College World Series starts this weekend in Omaha...one year I am going to take two weeks off work and head to Omaha to watch all the games...maybe when I retire...I have 16 more years to go...
Roger Federer has the misfortune of playing against possibly the greatest clay court tennis player ever in Rafael Nadal...after Nadal smoked Federer on Sunday, it looks like the French Open will be the only Grand Slam title that he will not win...
Why are the media making a big brouhaha about Ed McMahon possibly losing his mansion...who gives a shit if this 85-year-old fart is going to lose his mansion!!!...there are thousands and thousands of hard working middle class Americans who are losing their homes...so what if Ed McMahon may have to live in an average house...honestly, I do not feel sorry for him...
I don't know how long I can keep that photo up of the dude who is pregnant...it is freaking me out...
Tributes to Jim McKay Mike Lupica - New York Daily NewsJerry Izenberg - Newark Star LedgerLakers-Celtics
T.J. Simers of the Los Angles Times write about legendary Lakers play-by-play announcer Chick Hearn... "The same might be said about Chick and Lakers fans, everyone knowing just what he meant when he would say, "He's in the popcorn machine," or who he was talking about when he would mention "The Big Fella." Nine championships, Chick behind the microphone for each of them, but he dies before they pass out the rings for winning it all in 2002 -- a ring dedicated to him." ... T.J. SimersBig Brown's stunning loss
Legendary sports columnist Furman Bisher of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes about Big Brown's loss... "Sometimes I think I know horse racing. Never have I been so sure that we had finally had a Triple Crown winner in the Belmont Stakes. This was Big Brown’s day. His year. He would join Secretariat in immortality. There was no fail in him. Maybe I felt that strong about Majestic Prince, but that was so long ago, who could remember? That was 1969. But even Majestic Prince came closer than Big Brown. Never has such an odds-on favorite ever finished last in such a monumental race." ... Furman BisherWilliam Rhoden of The New York Times writes how steroids is being questioned in Big Brown's success... "On Friday, the trainer Rick Dutrow told reporters that he had not given Big Brown a shot of the anabolic steroid Winstrol since before the Kentucky Derby and would not use it Saturday at the Belmont." ... William RhodenU.S. Open
Nick Canepa of the San Diego Union Tribune writes about the Torrey Pines course... "“No one can play out of the long rough,” he said. “It's the way the U.S. Open is supposed to be. It's not unfair; it's not like other Opens I've seen." ... Nick CanepaLarry Dorman of The New York Times writes how Torrey Pines can humble the world's best golfers... "Mike Davis, the senior director of rules and competitions for the United States Golf Association, has overseen the setup at Torrey Pines the past two years. He has gone over every aspect of the course, looking for any flaw the way a parent combs through a child’s hair for head lice." ... Larry DormanJay Posner of the San Diego Union-Tribune writes how viewers of the U.S. Open have to deal with Chris Berman for two days... "Some of Berman's critics – and I have been one – might term it a cruel trick rather than a tantalizing treat. If they hear one more nickname or fake Scottish “Monty,” they might throw a Footjoy through their plasma screen." ... Jay PosnerOther tidbits
Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle writes about baksetball and Barack Obama... "All I'm saying is that if we wind up with a basketball player as our president, it's about time. Basketball is our national game and, better than any other sport, it develops the skills and values a person needs to thrive in the world's toughest job." ... Scott OstlerChris Gasper of the Boston Globe writes how Tom Brady is ready to get the new season started... "The Patriots' franchise quarterback wasn't being hounded by paparazzi in Brazil or Costa Rica or New York. He was throwing passes to his receivers and encouraging teammates. Celebrity or not, Brady is still first and foremost a football player." ... Chris GasperJay Mariotti of the Chicago Sun-Times rips Bears running back Cedric Benson after another alcohol-related incidents... "How does someone with a functioning brain and a pending alcohol case put any amount of alcohol in his body ... and drive? Worse, how does he do so in a renowned party town with police on every corner, steering his BMW at 3:15 a.m. in the city’s entertainment district weeks after accusing the local authorities of roughing him up? You don’t think those Austin coppers were licking their chops as if served a plate of chicken-fried steak? Given Benson’s troubled history, it’s hard to believe anything he or his attorney say in his defense anymore." ... Jay MariottiTeddy Greenstein of the Chicago Tribune writes how Cubs outfielder Kosuke Fukudome is always followed by the Japanese press... "But after the interview room cleared and the Cubs beat writers returned to the press box, Fukudome entered to a faint smell of cigarettes and a mass of 14 Japanese reporters." ... Teddy GreensteinJeff Darlington of the Miami Herald writes how the Dolphins quarterback situation is heating up... "But Lee also warned during this weekend's minicamp that anyone anticipating a starting quarterback to be named before training camp might be in for a longer wait than expected. That's because practices might matter -- but games matter more." ... Jeff DarlingtonMichael Wilbon of the Washington Post writes how some NBA people question whether NBA players should be playing in the Olympics... "The Beijing Olympics begin in two months and for the fifth time NBA players will compete. The U.S. team again will have only professional players, to the delight of NBA Commissioner David Stern, but to the detriment of the league, if you believe skeptics such as Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and Lakers Coach Phil Jackson." ... Michael WilbonBill Livingston of the Plain Dealer writes about the day when Dr. J owned the NBA... "In his dreams, he still flies. "Sometimes, I dream about jumping from the foul line [and dunking]," said Julius Erving, "although I have no illusions I can." ... Bill Livingston
KELLY "THE GHOST" PAVLIK
Most Americans like to discuss who is the best at a certain profession...in the NBA, is it Kobe or LeBron?...in the NFL, is it Peyton, Brady, or LaDainian?...but when it came to political journalism, Tim Russert of NBC News was flat out THE BEST...end of story!...
